Glengormley businessman and MLA split

MLA Anna Lo and Gavin Millar pictured at a Rotary Club dinner last year. INNT 05-477-RM

Published:09:12Monday 23 January 2012

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A GLENGORMLEY businessman has split from his high profile MLA spouse just 18 months after they tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Stormont.

Alliance Assemblywoman Anna Lo confirmed she had split from prominent Newtownabbey businessman Gavin Millar at the weekend. The couple married in an Humanist ceremony in the Great Hall in Stormont in July 2010.

Humanist Ireland magazine described how guests were entertained by lion dancers “gyrating furiously around the hall to the sound of Chinese drums” and one of Anna’s sons read out a Seamus Heaney poem.

At the weekend the MLA confirmed she had split from Mr Millar and had moved out of the marital home.

The 61-year-old who has two grown-up children from her first marriage, said of the split: “It’s been very painful and private.

“I just want to find some peace and quiet and move on. It’s obviously very sad, hurtful and has been difficult for both of us.”

Ms Lo is a passionate campaigner on equality issues and has called for action to address inadequacies in race laws. When she first won an Assembly seat in 2007 she was the first ethnic Chinese person elected to any legislative parliament in the UK.

And last year, not only did she retain her seat, she also topped the poll in the South Belfast count.

Ms Lo was also awarded an MBE for her services to Ethnic Minorities in 1999.

As well as operating Ink World on the Ballyclare Road in Glengormley, Gavin Millar is also Secretary of East Antrim Old Vehicle Club.

He refused to comment on the split when contacted by the Times this week.